Clutch



Nov. 13, 1934. w, JANDA 1,980,757

CLUTCH Original Filed Sept. 26. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 13,1934 CLUTCH W. Janda, Berwyn, 111., assignor to Conlon Corporation,Cicero, Ill.,

Rudolph of Illinois Original application a corporation September 26,1930, Serial No. 484,542. Divided and this application September21,1931, Serial No. 563,944

7 Claims.

This invention relates to clutches.

This application is a division of my copending application for Ironingmachine, Serial No. 484,542, filed September 26, 1930.

While the above identified application discloses the clutch as appliedto ironing machines, for which it is particularly adapted, I desire itto be understood that I do not intend to limit it to such use, as theinvention, in its broader aspects, is capable of being used with othertypes of ma chines. p

The primary aim of the present invention is the provision of simplifiedclutch mechanism, in which I have incorporated certain improvements andnovel features.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of clutchmechanism for coupling an eccentric member to a driven shaft, and theprovision of means for operating the clutch mechanism wheneverengagement or disengagement of the clutch with the shaft is desired.

of clutch mechanism, the parts of which may be easily fabricated, easilyassembled in cooperation with other parts and so constructed that theclutch will render reliable service.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the clutch mechanism of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clutch mechanism and the operatingmeans therefor;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the clutch trip finger is raised and theeccentric is clutched to the shaft;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the clutch operating ring.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a housing forenclosing the clutch mechanism proper. This housing is mounted upon asupporting structure S, such as the frame and bed of an ironing machine,in a suitable manner.

A worm gear housing 11 is detachably secured in any suitable orpreferred manner to the underface of housing 10. This housing 11 isprovided with a depending boss 12 which is suitably bored from its upperend for reception of a shaft 13 rotatably mounted therein. This shaftextends upwardly through a bearing bushing 14 which fits secured uponshaft 13 and is rotatably seated through a collar 15 integral with andextending upwardly from bottom wall 16 of housing 10, this collar beingconcentric with the bore of boss 12. A worm gear 17 is keyed orotherwise suitably 6 0 upon the upper end of 1205512. Suitable drivingemeans (not shown) vis adapted to cooperate with the gear 1'? forimparting rotation to shaft 13, the rotation of shaft 13being in aclockwise direction as consideredin Fig. 2.. g

Hubf18 ofworm gear 17 contacts a flange 19 at the lower end of thebusln'ng 14 and acts to hold this bushing against downward movement. Theupper end-portion of shaft 13 is of reduced and squared cross section,at20, and fltsinto a correspondingly shaped bore in a member 21 secureduponportion 20 of shaft 13 in a suitable manner, as by means of a setscrew 22,-

is mounted An eccentric structure 23 for free turning movement about thebearing bushing 14.

. This-structure is provided, at'its underside, with The invention alsocontemplates the provision areduced eccentric element 24 which seatsupon the upper face of collar 15. An eccentric strap 25 fitsabouteccentric element 24. This strap is formed at one end of an arm '26which is secured, at its other end, to, any suitable means 7, which isto be operated by said clutch. The strap 25 and arm 26 are fullydisclosed in the above mentioned copending application andinasmucha'sthey form no part of the present invention, need not be furtherdescribed here.

Eccentric member 23 is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 27concentric with shaft 13, the upper face of this member being flat orplane from the flange to the outer edge .of the body portion thereof.Member 23 is provided, in the upper face thereof and adjacent flange 27,with a channel 28 of appreciable depth, which receives a tension coilspring 29. One end of this spring is secured, by a pin 30, to member 23.At its other end, spring 29 is provided with an eye 31 which receives atongue 32 pressed downwardly from a clutch operating ring 33 which fltsabout flange 27 and seats upon the upper face of eccentric member 23,this ring forming a closure for the upper end of channel 28. An annularclutch yoke 34 is disposed about flange 27 and seats upon the ring 33.This yoke is provided with diametrically disposed notches 35 whichreceive angularly disposed tabs 36 formed integrally with the ring 33and projecting upwardly therefrom, these tabs being outwardly offsetrelative to the body portionof the ring. A star wheel 37 is disposedwithin the pocket or recess defined by flange 27 and fits about thesquared portion 110 20 of shaft .13 for rotation therewith. This starwheel and the yoke 34 are preferably of laminnated construction, theelements thereof being suitably secured together, as by :riveting. The

starwheel and the yoke-are thus built up .from elements which can bestamped out of sheet metal of suitable gauge, which is advantageous. ascontributing to low cost of production. However, the yoke and the starwheel may be otherwise constructed if desired. An annular cover plate 38is disposed beneath member 21 and seats upon shoulder or flange 27,'thisplate projecting outwardly beyond this flange and acting to hold theyoke 34 and the star 'wheel 37 and cooperating parts against upwardmovement.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, flange -27 isprovided with av slot .39 extending therethrough and of a size toaccommodate a clutch disc 40 of a size and shape to flt into the notches41 of the star wheel 37. Clutch yoke 34 is provided, in its inner edge,with a recess 42 of proper depth to receive the portion of disc 40 whichprojects beyond flange 27 when this disc is in its outer or inoperativeposition. This recess is provided with an extension 43 of reduced depthto accommodate the outer portion of the disc 40 when the latteris in itsinner or operative position. The spring 29 urges ring 33 in a clockwisedirection, as considered in Figure 2.

A trip finger 44 is rockably mounted, as by means of a cap screw45,-upon a boss 46 projecting inwardly from the wall of gear housing 10.A control rod. 4'1 is mounted in any suitable or preferred mariner inthe housing 10 and is pivotally connected at its lower end, at 48, tofinger 44. Finger 44 is provided, at the inner end thereof, with anelement 49 disposed for contact by one end of a supplemental control rod50 slidable through a bracket 51 suitably secured to an angle strip 52.An expansion coil spring 53 is mounted about rod 50 and is confinedbetween the inner wall of housing Y10 and a washer 54 mounted about rod50' and held against relative movement toward bracket 51 by a cotter pin55.

By operating either of the rods 47 or 50 for raising the trip finger 44,the eccentric member 23 may be alternately clutched to or declutchedfrom the shaft 13. That is, movement of the rod 50 inwardly of thehousing 10 serves to rock finger 44 so as to raise the other end thereofinto inoperative position. The same result is accomplished by depressingthe rod 47. The spring 53 serves normally to hold rod 50 in its outer orinoperative position, and the-finger 44 is normally held in itsoperative position. In

such position, the rearward or inner end of the flnger is disposed tocontact tabs 36 of the ring 33. This serves to hold yoke 34 in suchposition that recess 42 thereof is in alignment with slot 39, due tocontact of tabs 36 with the end walls of notches 35. At this time thedisc 40 is in its outer or inoperative position (Fig. 2), and the starwheel 37 is free to turn with shaft 13 independently .of the eccentricmember 23 and other parts associated therewith.

In Figure 2, it will be'noted that the eccentrio member is disposed inits extreme position to the left of shaft. 13 and. that the .flnger 44is in its operative position. When the flnger 44 is raised intoinoperative position, through the medium of rod 47 or rod 50, as thecase may be, thus releasing the ring 33, spring 29- immediately turnsthe ring in a clockwise direction so as to bring the tabs 36 intocollect with the ends of the notches 35 opposite tothe ends thereof withturning of the star wheel and the eccentric which these tabs contact inFigure .2, the spring then acting to turn'both the ring 33 and theclutch yoke 34 in a clockwise direction. This brought into position tofit about the outer portion of disc 40 thus holding it in its inner oroperative position. The eccentric member turns with the star wheelthrough a'half rotation, at

which time the other tab 36 of ring 33 contacts 91 trip finger 44, itbeing understood that this trip flnger is returned to its operativeposition immediately upon release of rod 47 or 50, as the case may be.Upon contact of the tab 36 with the trip finger, ring 33 'is heldvagainst turning movement, yoke 34 continuing to turn with the star wheel.until the end walls of notches 35 contact the tabs, at which time theyoke also is held against turning movement. Upon continued 106 member,slot 39 is again brought into alignment 'with recess 42, at which timedisc 40 is forced outwardly into this recess, by the pressure exertedupon this disc by the starwheel. This returns the parts to theirrelative positions of Figure 2, except that the disc 40 and associatedparts will have been moved through an arc of 180 from the position ofthis figure, and the eccentric element will have been turned through anarc of 180 so as to be disposed to the rightllO of shaft 13, asconsidered in Figure 2.

I desire it to be understood that although I have described in detailthe preferred embodiment of my invention, it is not to be limited to theparticular construction shown except insofar asit may be limited by theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, an outer clutch member having an annular flangedefining a recess and provided with a slot therethrough, an inner clutchmember in said recess and free from the outer member, a coupling memberoperating in the slot and movable into and out of engagement with theinner clutch member, a yoke member fitting about the flange and movablethereabout, said yoke member having a recess adapted for reception ofthe outer portion of the coupling member when said recess is alignedwith the slot, yielding means urging the yoke in a direction to movesaid recess of the yoke member out of alignment with the slot andthereby move the coupling member inwardly into engagement with the innerclutch member, and releasable means for normally holding the yoke memberin inoperative position.

2. In combination, an outer clutch member having an upwardly extendingannular flange defining a recess, said member being provided with achannel in its upper face and extending about the flange, an innerclutch member mount- 140 ed in the recess, an operating ring mounted onat one end to the outer clutch member and having its other end anchoredto the ring, the ring and the 'yoke member having cooperating abutmentelements for turning the latter with the former and the spring acting toturn the yoke member so as to dispose the recess thereof. out

of alignment with the slot and thereby force the coupling member intoengagement with said innerclutch member 3. In combination, an outerclutch member having an upwardly extending annular flange deflning arecess, said member being provided with a channel in its upper face andextending about the flange, an inner clutch member mounted in therecess, an operating ring mounted on the upper face of the outer memberto turn about the flange, a yoke member mounted upon the ring and aboutthe flange, said yoke being free from the flange, said flange beingprovided. with a slot, a coupling member operating in the slot andmovable into and onto! engagement with the inner clutch member, the yokehaving a recess adapted when aligned with the slot to receive the outerportion of the coupling member, and a tension spring in the channelanchored at one end to the outer clutch member and having its other endanchored to the ring, the ring and the yoke member having cooperatingabutment elements iorturning the latter with the former and the springacting to so as to dispose the recess thereof out of alignment with theslot and thereby force the coupling member into engagement with saidinner clutch member, and releasable means cooperating with the abutmentelements oi the ring for normally holding the ring and the yoke memberin inoperative position with the recess of the yoke member aligned withthe slot of the flange.

4. In combination, an outer clutch member having an upwardly extendingannular flange defining a recess, said member being provided with achannel in its upper face and extending about the flange, an innerclutch member mounted in' the recess, an operating ring mounted on theupper face of the outer member to turn about the flange, a yoke membermounted uponthe ring and about the flange, said yoke being free from theflange, said flange being provided with a slot, a coupling memberoperating in the slot and movable into and out of engagement with theinner clutch member, the yoke having a recess adapted when aligned withthe slot to receive the outer portion of the coupling member, and atension spring in the channel anchored at one end to the outer clutchmember and having its other end anchored to the. ring, the ring beingprovided with upwardly projecting abutment elements and turn the yokemember the yoke member being provided with notches receiving saidelements of the ring.

5. In combination, an outer clutch member I having an upwardly a recess,tree turning movement, a yoke extending flange defining member mountedabout the flange for relative turning movement,

the flange having a slot therethrough, a disc slidable in the slot andadapted to fit between the teeth of the star wheel when in its innerposition, the yoke member ha g a recess adapted for reception of theouter portion of the disc when said recess is aligned with the slot, andyielding means for turning the yoke about the flange so as to disposethe recess of theyoke out of alignment withthe slot and thereby move thedisc inwardly into engagement with the starv wheel.

6. Incombination, an outer clutch member having an annular flangedefining a recess and provided with an opening therethrough, an innerclutch member in said recess and free from the outer member, a couplingmember operating in the opening and movable into and out of engagementwith the inner clutch member, a yoke member fitting about the flange andmovable thereabout, said yoke member having a recess adapted forreception of the outer portion of the coupling member when said recessis aligned with the opening, yielding means urging the yoke in adirection to move said recess 01' the yoke member out of alignment withthe opening and thereby move the coupling member inwardly intoengagement with the inner clutch member, and releasable means fornormally holding the yok member in inoperative position.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a positive clutchcomprising an inner clutch member provided with a plurality of cavitiestherein, a second clutch member surrounding the said inner clutch memberand'in continuous contact therewith, the said second clutch member beingprovided with an opening extending radial ly therethrough, a memberwithin the said opening adapted to engage within the cavities oi thesaid inner member, and an outer member surrounding the said secondmember and in continuous contact therewith, the said outer member beingrotatably movable with respect to the second member to selectively forcethe said clutch engaging member into engagement with the said cavitieswhen the said outer member is moved in one direction to therebyinterlock the said inner and second members in operative engagement andto release the said clutch engaging member upon movement in the otherdirection to release the said clutch members from their operativeengagement.

RUDOLPH W. JANDA.

a star wheel mounted in said recess for v

